Jos – The Plateau State Child Protection Network (CPN) has declared that Nigeria cannot genuinely celebrate Children’s Day while thousands of vulnerable children remain trapped in abuse, trafficking, hazardous labour, drug addiction and institutional neglect.
The Network issued the warning in Jos on Thursday during the 2026 National Children’s Day celebration themed: “Future Now: Promoting Inclusion for Every Nigerian Child.”
Speaking on behalf of the Network, Plateau State CPN Coordinator, Sandra Dirmwa Chikan, challenged government authorities, parents, communities and stakeholders to move beyond what she described as “performative celebrations” and confront the worsening realities facing children across the state.
According to her, the volume of child abuse, trafficking and exploitation cases reported daily to the Network exposes a deep systemic failure in child protection structures.
“Are we truly ready to have an honest conversation about the state of our children? We cannot authentically champion a ‘Future Now’ while structural gaps continue to compromise their present,” she said.
“We cannot celebrate in good faith while our phone lines and offices are inundated daily with agonising cases of child abuse, trafficking and child labour. The statistics are not just saddening; they are a damning indictment of our collective failure.”
The Network raised concerns over increasing incidents of child trafficking, sexual abuse, forced labour and the growing number of out-of-school children involved in hazardous artisanal mining activities across several local government areas of the state.
CPN further lamented that many trafficked children repatriated from neighbouring states and countries often return traumatised, addicted to drugs and rejected by their families, with little or no rehabilitation support from the state.
The group also disclosed that vulnerable children are frequently pushed into unsafe orphanages and poorly regulated care institutions due to the absence of functional state-backed transit shelters and rehabilitation centres.
It warned that mental health crises and substance abuse among children are rapidly increasing.
Despite the concerns, the Network commended the Plateau State Government for establishing the Child Rights Implementation Committee (CRIC) and the Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, describing both as important structural steps toward strengthening child protection systems.
CPN also praised the creation of a dedicated data office within the Ministry of Women Affairs and the deployment of the Children First software designed to track children in care institutions.
The Network further acknowledged support from the Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission, the National Human Rights Commission, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Plateau State Peace Building Agency in monitoring orphanages and enforcing child welfare standards.
However, Chikan warned that the impact of the newly established structures would remain limited without immediate funding and operational backing.
“Frameworks alone cannot rescue a child in crisis,” she stated.
She noted that interventions targeting displaced children, orphans and survivors of violence have continued to suffer major setbacks because resources meant for implementation have not been released.
The Network also expressed concern over the dismissal of a defilement case involving a four-year-old survivor by the Office of the Attorney General.
While noting that authorities explained the withdrawal was procedural to allow further investigation, CPN demanded clarification over the defendant’s alleged failure to appear in court and attempts to remove the child from school despite an existing restraining order.
The organisation warned that it would resist any attempt to compromise justice in the matter.
As part of its demands, the Network called for the immediate release of funds to the Child Rights Implementation Committee, establishment of state-funded transit shelters for abuse survivors, stricter monitoring of orphanages and alternative care homes, and the operationalisation of Community Child Protection Committees across the 17 local government areas of Plateau State.
It also demanded quarterly stakeholder accountability meetings involving law enforcement agencies, community leaders and child protection actors to address emerging threats and strengthen response mechanisms.
The Network urged citizens to stop shielding perpetrators of child abuse and trafficking because of political, social or family affiliations.
“When you see a child in need and turn a blind eye, you are not neutral. You are fanning the flames of abuse and injustice,” the group stated.
CPN called on the Plateau State Government, security agencies, traditional rulers, parents and residents to shift attention from ceremonial celebrations to what it described as the “non-negotiable defence” of children’s lives and future.